KRM Construction Partnership, the consortium promoting the €280m Newgate Centre development in the city, has addressed a number of issues raised by An Bord Pleanala and is hopeful that the proposed complex will soon be under construction.
A spokesperson for KRM confirmed this week that a comprehensive response had been submitted to An Bord Pleanála ‘addressing each of the issues raised by the board and reiterating the sound arguments for the development in the centre of the southeast’s designated gateway city’,
The design approved by Waterford City Council in July 2007 proposes 60 shops, with three anchor units, a 153-bedroom four star hotel with conference centre and leisure facilities, arts, cultural and community facilities and underground parking for over 600 vehicles. Twenty-six city centre homes are also included, as is a rooftop viewing area offering 360-degree views across the city. Objections to this proposal were subsequently lodged to An Bord Pleanála by Brendan McCann, Waterford Alliance for Sustainable Inner City Development, Waterford Council of Trade Unions, Department of the Environment, Patrick Street and Stephen Street Traders Group and Noel McDonagh.
“We fully expected when we received our planning permission from Waterford City Council that we would face appeals to An Bord Pleanála and would have anticipated at least some of the delay that these appeals have given rise to”, the KRM spokesperson commented. “Encouragingly, we continue to receive a lot of support from the wider community in Waterford and interest remains strong among potential tenants in Ireland and overseas even in the current economic climate. We now look forward to a positive decision from An Bord Pleanála on the planning appeals and, subsequently, to delivering the scheme as soon as feasible.”
If approved by An Bord Pleanála, the project is expected to create approximately 600 jobs during the construction phase and a further 1,300 on completion. The 5.1 acre site in question incorporates Stephen Street, Alexander Street, Michael Street, New Street and part of John’s Lane / Castle Street.
